JORDAN'S FAMILY PROTECTION PROJECT WINS UN PRIZE

UNCLAS AMMAN 008044

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PHUM KWMN JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN'S FAMILY PROTECTION PROJECT WINS UN PRIZE


1. (U) On December 10, the UN General Assembly President
will present the Family Protection Project Management Team of
Jordan one of six 2003 UN Prizes in the Field of Human
Rights, which are awarded every five years. The Family
Protection Project is being recognized as "a ground-breaking
initiative that...helped to lift the taboo on the subject of
domestic violence and promote open debate on human rights and
gender equality." Established by the GOJ in 2000, the hybrid
government/nongovernmental management team developed and
implemented the project,s "holistic, inclusive and
preventative approach" to combating the causes of domestic
abuse. The project has led to procedural and institutional
changes that have addressed both the victims and perpetrators
of domestic violence in Jordan.


2. (SBU) Nadia Bushnaq, vice chairperson of the Management
Team, sees this as an important source of recognition both
within and outside the country. Calling it "a UN stamp of
approval," she regards the award as a means to an end:
obtaining funding from international donors for the
Protection Project. While the British Department for
International Development has funded the Project until now,
future funding is questionable. She states that the British
government applied for the King Hussein Award for the Project
last year, without success, and likely sought the UN award
this year. The Project provided no direct input as part of
the application process, but plans on holding a local press
conference after the award is presented.


3. (U) The December 4 English language Jordan Times devoted
an extensive page two article and a highly complementary
editorial to the award. The Arabic language press reported on
the prize, but less in-depth and without editorializing. Post
notes that domestic violence still remains taboo in Jordanian
culture, though this prize will likely have a positive effect
on the Project,s work in Jordan by highlighting its
constructive efforts to deal with the issue, not just
publicize it.
HALE